Can opener



March 17, 1931. A. PoTlGlAN v 1,796,807

CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 19, 1928 2 SheetsfSheet l ,4. Por/ @b4/v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY .March 17, 1931.

A.l POTIGIAN GAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet A2 Filed Sept. 19. 1928 A. P07767A/V INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ARMEN POTIGIAN, F DAVENPORT, IOWA GAN OPENER Application led September 19, 1928. Serial No. 306,870.

The present invention relates to improvements in can openers and is more particularly concerned with adjustable can openers which may be used for the opening of cans e off vari-ous dimensions. Among the objects of this invention are to provide a can `opener j of the character indicated which will securely hold a can during the opening thereof; 'to provide a "can 'opener which is adjustable for variations in 'diameter and length of can; to provide an implement of the character indicated which is rigid in construction and yet capable of being easily adjusted; and such further objects, advanl tages Iand capabilities as will hereafter appear and vas are inherent in the 'construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the ac- 20 companying drawings and, While I have shown therein what is now considered the preferred embodiment Aof this invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative lonly and n'ot to be interpreted in a '25 limiting sense.

V In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof, Fig. lis a side elevation lof a construction embodying my invention; Fig. l2 is an elevation lat a right angle E3'0 to the view lshown in Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the construction shown in Fig. 1 taken substantially along the line 3-3 of said figure; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross `section of the cutter arm `and holding means, showing the cutting blade and a portion 'of its handle in elevation; Fig. 5 is a similar view 'of the centering point for 'erforating the can end and holding the can 1n 'o'siti'on with relation to the other parts oit e mechanism; Fi'g. 6 is a detached view 'of the 'centering point, partly in perspective. `Referring .more in detail to the annexed drawings, numeral 1 denotes a base provided with a plurality of screw holes 2 by 4:5 means `of which 'the base can be secured to 5. threaded tor the reception of the screw 5.

This latter is locked in place by means of the wing nut 6 or any equivalent device. If desired, this locking means may be dis pensed with, though it is believed preferable to use the same. The threaded member 5 l5 is provided with an elongated point 5a which is designed to perforate the side of a can 7 just below the rim 8 at the top thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The upright member 3 is made in two sec- 60 tions, the upper of which is designated by the numeral 9, the two parts being held together by securin means 10 such as bolts and nuts. This ac'justment makes it possible to adjust the height of the device for cans of various lengths. Pairs `oi? holes l1 are provided to enable this adjustment to be accomplished. Horizontal adjustment of the screw 12 with relation with the upright 3, 9 is provided for by having a hori- 70 zontal bracket 13 adjustably secured to the horizontal projection la of the upright member 9. A screw threaded block l5 is secured to the horizontal arm 13 to furnish sufficient bearing for the screw 12 whichis 75 adjustable in the block 15.

The screw 12 is provided at its lower `end with a head 16, which latter has a slot 17 for the reception of the centering point 18. This centering point is shown most clearly in Fig. 6. lllhile the flange 19 thereof may be formed integral with the body, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is also possible to screw thread the body of the centering point and have a screw threaded washer mounted thereon to form a detachable flange instead of a rigid flange. This centering point also has a substantially rectangular `elongated head 20 which lits tightly in the slot 17 in head 16. This head 2O is rovided with a 90 transverse opening 21 whic may .be caused to aline with a corresponding transverse opening in the head 16. A pin 'or bolt 22 may pass through these openings and be secured therein to hold the centering 9i point in the slot 17. The securing means may be a cotter pin 23 passed through the bolt 22, as shown in Fig 5, or the bolt may be screw threaded and have a wing nut thereon. W

A space or groove 24 is formed between the flange 19 and head 20 and the longitudinally slotted bar 25 is mounted in this space before the centering point is attached to the vhead 16. The bar may be moved longitudi- Adjustably mounted on the bar 25, which is provided with an operatinghandle 28, is

a carrier block 29 consisting of two members suitably secured together. The upper one,

V30, is undercut on two' opposite sides as shown in Fig. 4 to provide grooves in which the edges of the bar 25 may be received, as

shown in this gure. These two blocks are secured together in any suitable manner, as by a plurality of screws not shown in the drawing. The cutter point 26 has screw threaded shank 31 which is received in a screw threaded opening in block 29. A handle 32 has a screw threaded shank provided with two screw threaded sections 33 and 34, the latter of which is screwed into the upper section of the block 29. This handle serves as means whereby the cutter point may be adjusted with relation to the barv29 when it has been released. A bridge member 35 straddles the block 30 and has its edges in engagement with the upper surface of the bar 25. When the locking member 36 is screwed downwardly on the screw threaded section 33, it presses the bridge 35 against the bar 25 and holds the cutter point and its associated elements against longitudinal motion along the bar 25. have been adjusted to the desired location with relation to the bar 25, the locking member 36 is screwed down to lock them in position until such time as it isdesired to again adjust them with relation to the bar.

Eyes 38 are formed on the edges of npright`3 and receive a securing pin 39 which also passes through an eye on one end of member 40 which is secured to and serves as a terminal for the ends of the bands 41. This member 40 is thus pivotally mounted with relation to the upright'3, beingpivoted on the pin 39. .A stop 42 limits the amount which this member may swing inwardly un# der tension during use. Member 46 has a pair of transferably perforated lugs 43 projecting therefrom. These extend through perforations 44 in the bands 41 and will hold the same adjusted to the size of the can, when a pin 45 has been inserted in the perforations through the lugs. When the can has been so adjusted that the center of the top thereof is beneath the point 18 and the bands .41 are drawn tightly against the same and secured in position as shown in Fig. 3,

W'hen these p arts Y the screw 46 is then turned in until its head 47 engages tightly against the can and presses it against the bands 41. A wing nut 48 may then be turned down on the screw 46, lif desired, and will clamp the washer 49 against the bands to assist in holding them in adjusted position. l

Projecting from one edge of member 1 is a bracket 50 on which is pivotally mounted a holding member 51 provided with a vertically extending flange 52. The other end of this holding member has a latch member 53 pivotally connected thereto which latch member is provided with notches 54 adapted to engage a pin 55 in the member 1 and serves to hold member 51 in adjusted positions. The purpose of this holding member isrto engage the side of a can during the cutting operation and prevent 'the same from swinging laterally under the cutting pressure, thereby putting undue bending strains upon the bands 41.

The operation of this device will now be restated completely. Assuming the base 1 to be secured to a table or other suitable vsupport, the bands 41 are loosened, if necessary, until the can which it is desired to open can be placed within the bandsand underneath the point 18. This can will then be adjusted until it is centered with relation to the point. The screw-12 is then turned down until the point 18 'perforates the can top and extends some distance within the can. The bands 41 are then drawn tightly about the can and the lugs 43`are caused to enter openings 44, .the pin 45 then being inserted through the perforations in thelugs. The screw 46 is next screwed in until the head 47 engages the can tightly and then `The member 51 is drawn over against the can and the appropriate notch 54 is caused to surround thepin 55 so that member 51 will be prevented from swinging about its pivotal connection with the extension 50. The `cutting point 26 is then'caused to cut into the can top, just Vinside the rim, the screw 12 being screwed down to accomplish this. Y VVBy now grasping the handle 28 and swingingy the same about its connection with the point 18, the knife 26 will be caused to cut through the metal of the can top, nearly severing the Vsame from the can. Thecan can nowrbev removed Vfrom the opener in an yobvious manner andthe contents removed therefrom.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a can holder, a base havin an u right rising therefrom, means to old t e can rigidly With relation to the upright, and means connected with the upright to perforate the can adjacent its upper end and gold it against rotation relatively to the ase.

2. A can holder comprising a base upon which the can to be opened is placed, said base being adapted to be secured to a suitable support and having an arm projecting laterally therefrom, the same being rigidly connected thereto, a flanged adjustable lever pivotally connected With said arm, said llever and base having co-operating means whereby the lever may be secured in adjusted positions to prevent lateral motion of a can With relation to the base, the body of the lever supporting the can and the flange thereof arranged to furnish lateral support for the can.

3. A can holder comprising a base adapted to be secured to a suitable support, said base having an arm projecting laterally therefrom7 a flanged adjustable lever pivotally connected with said arm, said lever and base having co-operating means Whereby the lever may be secured in adjusted positions to prevent lateral motion of a can with relation to the base, said base having an upright rising therefrom and said upright being provided at its lateral edges with eyes, a holding means pivotally connected with part of said eyes, a flexible, resilient band connected with said holding means and adapted to surround a can, said holding means having a stud projecting therefrom,

j said band being provided with perforations along its length to engage said stud and adjust the size of the opening Within the band to the size of a can, means to lock the band in place on the stud, and means eX- tending through the upright, said last named means being adjustable to press the can against the band whereby the can will be tightly held.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

` ARMEN POTIGIAN. 

